After eight years of finding names, scheduling and doing hundreds of interviews, making hundreds of phone calls, researching on the Internet, and writing mornings and nights, Sarah Sherman McGrail is now smiling and taking a break from research and writing.

Her two-volume biographies of local Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, "Looking Back, Volumes I and II" are now available.

These biographies (over 200 local men and women veterans are included) tell the important stories of both wars, the Korean War (1950-1953) and Vietnam War (1964-1975). Some of the biographies are as short at 100 words, while other veterans opened up to Sherman and their stories are told over 20 to 30 pages. McGrail used hundreds of photographs from the wars collected from the veterans, their families or other sources.

When asked recently about her eight years of work, talking with veterans and their families, McGrail said most of the veterans saw their time in the service as a “sense of duty.”

“Some of them really opened up and were happy to talk, while others wouldn’t talk to me about their service,” said McGrail, author of two other books on local World War II veterans, “Southport – The War Years,” in 1996 and “Heroes Among Us,” in 1999. “There was one veteran I almost gave up on after eight years of trying and then one day when I was getting ready to wrap up the project, he agreed to tell his story.”

When asked about the difference between interviewing those who saw battle and those who stayed stateside or were in Europe, McGrail said, “In many ways, the veterans who didn’t serve overseas were harder to interview, because they had such great respect for their friends and relatives, but their military histories are just as important as the combat veterans. Their support roles were critical to successful military operations, as well as providing vital services worldwide that kept shipping lines free of ice, helped maintain international relations, and provide around the clock assistance for vessels distressed at sea.”

Besides the local veterans, McGrail has also included the stories from guest veterans in the volumes, either people who have moved to the region or people she has met over the years, and select war time stories.

McGrail said she was elated that, during her research, she was able to help two veterans find long lost friends and family members of soldiers they served with.

“The first was Peter Hall (U.S. Army, Vietnam War), who I successfully reunited with his friend, Vito Baker, who was formerly of Hawaii, but now resides in Arizona. I was present when Peter telephoned Vito and the two veterans spoke for the first time in 46 years, happily picking up exactly where they’d left off in 1970. It was a real honor to experience that moment and I’d like to thank Peter and Hilda for allowing me to be present for it.

“The second was Ernie Carver (U.S. Army, Vietnam War), who was reunited with the family of his good friend, Juan Rojas, who was from Guam. Unfortunately, Juan passed away, but I was able to locate his cousin, sister and four sons. Guam is kind of like Southport Island and when I made contact there, the whole island stepped forward to help.”

In her author’s message in the volumes, McGrail mentions that her mother, Evelyn Sherman of Southport, told her that this project was the “most important yet, not because one war is ‘better’ than the other but because many of the Korean War veterans feel forgotten and many of the Vietnam veterans feel that they were disrespected by their own country. As I started researching this project, I was quickly struck by the realization as to how ‘right’ my mother was. This isn’t just a history; it’s an opportunity for healing that is long overdue.”

Cover photography for the books was done by Southport photographer Robert Mitchell, using Ernie Carver’s photo for Volume I and Barry Sherman’s photo for Volume II.

“And I want to thank my editor and publisher, Tim Seymour of Tim Seymour Designs of Rockport, who worked so hard on this project. He was the one who suggested the two volumes, since I had so many biographies,” said McGrail.

She also wished to thank her volunteer proofreaders, veterans Brian Rego of Boothbay and Jim Singer of Southport, and Jim’s wife, Becky.

“These volumes wouldn’t have come out when I planned without their help,” said McGrail.

On Saturday, May 28 at 1 p.m., just in time for Memorial Day, McGrail is holding a celebration for the veterans and families featured in the books at the Southport Town Hall. She has put together nearly 40 posters (20” x 30”) of photos used in the book which will be on display and there will be other surprises at the event, including a classic car show in the back parking lot of the hall. She will be signing the books and ensures “an afternoon of celebration, thanks and remembrance.”

Orders for “Looking Back, Volume I and Volume II” at $24.95 each are now being accepted. Contact McGrail at Cozy Harbor Press, Inc., P.O. Box 385, Southport, ME 04576. Telephone 207-633-7161 or email: sarah@cozyharborpress.com for more information and to place your order.